Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) today announced a month-long public outreach program, or ‘Padayatra,’ to connect with the public and highlight the alleged failures of the state’s 15-month-old BJP government. The party’s Senior Vice President, Shri Debi Prasad Mishra, is set to play a prominent role in leading the campaign.
The BJD walk will officially commence from October 9 (Gopabandhu Jayanti) and continue for one month until November 9, as informed at a press conference at Shankha Bhawan.
The public relations exercise will be preceded by a program on October 2 (Gandhi Jayanti and Dussehra), where BJD members will garland the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in all constituencies to formally take up the program’s vision.
Speaking at the press conference, Shri Debi Prasad Mishra and BJD Vice President Smt. Pramila Mallick detailed the party’s accusations against the ruling party. They asserted that the walk aims to convey the state government’s failures to the people.
Smt. Mallick specifically criticized the BJP government, citing a deterioration in law and order and a rise in crime against women. She also alleged that the replacement of the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BS KWY) with the Ayushman Yojana has created healthcare difficulties.
Furthermore, the BJD slammed the government for allegedly moving to open 70 new liquor shops and two liquor factories despite a promise of an alcohol- and drug-free state, neglecting farmers who lack fertilizer, and “killing democracy” by reducing the powers of elected Panchayat representatives. The Padayatra is intended as a mass protest against the government on these core issues.